[Therapeutic implications of the biochemical features about depressive illness (author's transl)]

The biochemical features of depressions able to guide the prescription of antidepressants are seen through a review of the literature. The papers were mainly focused on the peripheral catabolites of brain monoamines. Depressions characterized by low levels of 5 HIAA in the C.S.F. would predict a better efficacy of the antidepressants acting on the re-uptake of serotonin. The dosage of urinary MHPG seems to be a valuable index for the choice of the drug. Subjects with low levels response better to IMI, DE-IMI and NT, and those with normal levels to AMI. COMT activity and platelet MAO activity are may be a valuable index for the predictivity of the therapeutic results. Finally, the dexamethasone suppression test can be useful in order to guide the length of the treatment.